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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

New neighbours

667 replies

Plannergirl9 · 10/06/2020 12:12

Sorry this is a long one. TLDR: Essentially we were gifted land from ex-neighbour when they died. New neighbours who bought her house has told us we must sell it to them.

A bit more backstorey. Our elderly neighbour lived next to us until they died in late December. She had a side bit of garden like an allotment that we used to help her with (hatched area on diagram). Unbeknownst to us she gifted us that area of land in her will. The rest of the house and land was to be sold and the money given to charity.

After the will reading we have had the land registry changed to confirm we now own the land. The house was put up for sale late January. In mid February we received a letter from a solicitor asking that we sell the land to the potential buyer of the house. We emailed back saying no we won't sell. We then heard nothing more from any solicitors. House was then sold during lockdown.

The new neighbours moved in on Monday. Yesterday they came to our door asking for the name of our solicitor so the land purchase can take place. We told them we were not planning on selling the land and that we told their solicitor that. The new neighbours didn't take it well. Apparently they only bought the house on the provision that they could buy the land and this was agreed with us via their solicitors.

The new neighbours got quite loud and angry about us apparently misleading them and left to speak to their solicitor. They seem to think we legally need to sell them the land as there was a written (email) contract between them and their solicitor who confirmed to them by email prior to the sale of the house that we would sell the land.

Aibu to a) not sell the land even though we technically didn't buy it and b) that the fact their solicitor has mislead them is not our problem?

Neighbours land is in red.
Our land is in black and the hatched area is the land they expect to buy.

New neighbours
OP posts:
Pelleas · 10/06/2020 16:39

'In potentia' means potentially or possibly, so the email is meaningless. Of course you could potentially sell your land - anyone could potentially sell anything!

chipsandpeas · 10/06/2020 16:41

just tell them to fuck off, the land isnt for sale and any issues speak to their solicitor

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/06/2020 16:41

@Plannergirl9 the thread you mentioned about the "meadow" is here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3932916-Are-we-complete-idiots

Fun about the "solicitor's email" on this one though, especially as the "solicitor" is apparently not even registered. Sounds like they have a mate who's knocked up a bit of dog Latin

LST · 10/06/2020 16:41

This thread is gold! I'm checking in to see what daddy has to say!

Though in all seriousness... you really shouldn't call her dad!

Cornishclio · 10/06/2020 16:43

I am laughing at that email and would urge you not to engage further either with the NDN or her dad. I cannot imagine any circumstances in which a solicitor would send that email implying that because you were gifted the land you would sell at a peppercorn price. Just ignore it and reiterate you have not agreed to sell it and will not be selling it as that would be going against the wishes of the previous lovely NDN who gifted it to you in the first place. Honestly the nerve of some people.

LST · 10/06/2020 16:43

@ohyeahyousuck it's nearly 6 months ago! We put an offer in on a house a week before xmas and were moved in in February.

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 10/06/2020 16:43

I wouldn't speak to her Dad. At best I would email so I had a written record of it. There's no need to speak to him though, you're not willing to sell so that is that. Any dispute they have is with their solicitor.

I take it all the emails/original letter are from the same solicitor?

Plannergirl9 · 10/06/2020 16:44

The female neighbours is English so I thought I would check. I didn't know you needed two solicitors.

I haven't told them I would phone her dad so maybe I'll leave it. I can be a sucker for begging and tears which is why I was going to speak to him. Probably best not.

We won't sell the land. Part of it is a bit of an allotment and we have been building an outdoor office/mancave. DH just retired so it will be a space for him now I have to work from home.

I don't know why you would make up an email from a solicitor and expect people not to check up on it. I have had experience with work people submitting nonsense with planning applications so I'm not surprised. Maybe her dad was dealing with the sale for them. I'm a bit nosy and intrigued as to what has gone on. Probably best to stay well out of it.

I've downloaded the land registry for the house and it definitely has been sold properly. Our land is definitely excluded from their deeds.

OP posts:
Roussette · 10/06/2020 16:44

I was reading 'in potentia' as
In polenta

It all sounds nonsense!

birthdaybelle · 10/06/2020 16:45

This makes no sense. Anyone can tel anyone that someone might sell something to someone else. If my friends solicitor emailed my friend and said I'd sell my engagement ring to her does that mean I have to? No!

Ignore ignore ignore. And don't talk to daddy. What an idiot

DigOutThoseLemonHandWipes · 10/06/2020 16:46

[quote LST]@ohyeahyousuck it's nearly 6 months ago! We put an offer in on a house a week before xmas and were moved in in February.[/quote]
A family member passed away unexpectedly in late November, the house was on the market before Christmas and the new owner moved in in early March. Hardly an unbelievable time scale Ohyeah

R2519 · 10/06/2020 16:48

@Plannergirl9
If you do happen to speak to the father just ask a very simple question.
Ask him what he would do if if he had new neighbours move in next door and they knocked on his door and said as part of their purchase he would be selling them a bit of his garden and they wanted to get the ball rolling.....ask what would his response would be to that because that is the exact same thing his daughter has just done!

Spin it round and ask him what he would do in that scenario.

friendlycat · 10/06/2020 16:50

I really don't think I would engage with speaking with the Dad as there is absolutely no reason to do so and it just somehow sucks you into something that you do not need to be involved in further.
Speaking with the father or her is not going to change the matter whatsoever. I agree with being neighbourly as you have regarding a "welcome" and imparting detail about bin day but this is now becoming a farce with solicitors that don't appear on law society registers, ridiculous lingo that would not be used in this day and age and now speaking to a father that you have never met?! All topped off with the fact you were asked a straight forward question about the sale of a piece of land and you declined in writing to a solicitor via email.

Plannergirl9 · 10/06/2020 16:51

OhYeahYouSuck our neighbour was dying she knew she would go quite soon so had everything organised. She was quite keen on everything being sorted and final. She even bought a new dress for her coffin. She had given away most of her belongings prior to her death as well. Her solicitor was very on the ball and had everything ready to transfer the title prior to her death.

OP posts:
OVienna · 10/06/2020 16:51

Roussette the polenta goes with the limoncello! All part of a theme.

GeishaInCroatia · 10/06/2020 16:53

They’re clearly trying it on. That “solicitor’s” letter is nonsense.
They sound very odd.
Do continue to be pleasant and sympathetic.
Up your security big time. Alarm, 5 lever locks, CCTV, the lot.

OVienna · 10/06/2020 16:54

The bit about her new dress makes me feel quite emotional. Sad

I bet she would be really cross that she ended up landing you with terrible new neighbours. Be sure to tell them how lovely the previous owner was.

oohnicevase · 10/06/2020 16:54

Don't suggest anything or call anyone's Dad . The onus is on her to prove anything other than the truth which of course she cannot . Be firm and assertive , you are keeping the land and did not agree to sell or possibly sell it and you are sorry they have been misled and leave it at that.

OVienna · 10/06/2020 16:55

she didn't land you - I mean that you got landed with. Sorry!

Vinosaurus · 10/06/2020 16:55

Who the hell are the 7 people who have voted YABU? I can't see how, in any which way or form, their demand to sell them your land could be seen as reasonable.

OP's neighbours/dad ... are you on this thread?

LST · 10/06/2020 16:55

Ahh OP.. that's made me a little full. She sounds a bit like my nan. She isn't ill and already has her funeral sorted 🙈

ArnoldBee · 10/06/2020 16:55

The only way out of this is to point out the piece of land is in fact a burial ground.

Shefliesonherownwings · 10/06/2020 16:56

Blimey! Although I've never worked in housing or planning, as a solicitor myself I would never ever write to my client with that sort of language. In fact I'd never even write to a court or another solicitor like that and I wouldn't expect any lawyer to write that way either. Sounds like someone's swallowed a Latin thesaurus!

Sorry if this has been answered but the letter you got initially that your DH responded to, presumably that was the same solicitor or firm?

Stand firm OP, gifted or not, you own that land and its registered to you. You dont want to sell it so dont get into a discussion with them or her dad. If they're claiming the solicitor misled them, that's their problem to sort out. I dont see why you need to speak to her dad or anyone else about it.

YouDirtyMare · 10/06/2020 16:58

glad you are not ringing her " dad " - who could be anyone
just ignore them otherwise you are fueling the drama

mumwon · 10/06/2020 16:58

great that you have decided NOT to phone (get further involved) I wonder if they got some (prat) on line - the agents(not solicitors) who do this kind of thing are virtually uncontactable - the one thing I always advise on house sales is to get a local solicitor that you can literally walk into or ring up if you have a query -it may cost more but I would rather be able to talk face to face & ask questions directly (looking at maps etc)
Don't get involved - but it might be worth a letter from a solicitor even if it costs as that would keep them off your back & make them realize you are serious & know your rights & wont be bullied